Special teams ace stepped up after TyRon Hoppers illness

Wes Hodkiewicz

GREEN BAYNick Niemannwas still a bit sore on Wednesday as preparations began for the Minnesota Vikings.

The Packers linebacker had plenty of right to be after playing 84 total snaps on short notice during Sunday's 45-27 victory over the New England Patriots.

While a cornerstone of Green Bay's special teams units, Niemann had played just two defensive snaps through the first eight games due to the team's overwhelming depth at linebacker.

Game No. 9 was a different story. With the Packers already playing withoutEdgerrin Cooper(season-ending Achilles tear) andZaire Franklin(shin) due to injury, the defense was thrown another curveball in Foxborough whenTy'Ron Hopperreported issues with his chest in pregame warmups.

Hopper tried to give it a go but exited after just two snaps, requiring Niemann to step in alongside veteranIsaiah McDuffiein arguably the Packers' biggest game to date.

"It's just one of those things where you have to own your role," Niemann said. "With a short-notice situation like that, it's like there's a lot of planning that can go on from a coaching standpoint to get other guys in there. It is what it is and let's go."

And away Niemann went, tallying six tackles and a pass breakup on 59 defensive snaps while manning his usual posts on special teams, recording a tackle on 25 additional snaps.

Niemann even took over the communication headset from McDuffie for a few moments as the veteran linebacker was getting checked out on the sideline before returning to the game.

Given everything that was going on, special teams coordinator Cam Achord gave Niemann the option to dial back his responsibilities in the third phase. The sixth-year veteran declined, feeling a sense of duty to Green Bay's special teams.

For his efforts, Head Coach Matt LaFleur awarded Niemann a game ball after the game.

"I thought he did really well," said defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon of Niemann. "That's a testament to Nick being ready to go. Like, not a lot of reps throughout the week, he knows he's the next guy in, but to be able to go in and play the whole game and then play all of fourth down, it was impressive. It really was. I was proud of him, happy for him."

Looking to boost their special teams units, the Packers pursued Niemann after training camp in 2025. He led Green Bay with 11 coverage tackles before a pectoral injury wiped him out for the rest of the regular season.

The 6-foot-3, 234-pound linebacker re-signed with the Packers in the offseason and has picked up right where he left off for Achord, who was tabbed to replace Rich Bisaccia in February.

A core four player, Niemann leads the Packers' special teams with 185 snaps and is second with nine coverage tackles through nine games. Most importantly, Niemann serves as the personal protector for punterDaniel Whelan.

"It's a great presence because he is the quarterback," Achord said. "He's the one that communicates on the punt team. He runs the show back there, and he's the one that's got to communicate to everybody on the field, what adjustments we may be making, and obviously he did a great job stepping up in the game for us the other night."

LaFleur often talks about owning one's role. While rare, there are occasions when an injury or illness knocks a player out in pregame warmups.

Back in January 2020, Jared Veldheer made a critical spot start at right tackle for Green Bay during the playoffs after Bryan Bulaga succumbed to an illness just hours before the Packers' NFC Divisional round game against the Seattle Seahawks.

On Sunday, it just so happened to be Niemann's turn. He admits it wasn't perfect. Days later, Niemann still laments being on the wrong side of Rhamondre Stevenson's 30-yard touchdown off a wheel route in the second quarter. But all things considered, it was an impressive performance in the worst-case scenario.

"He's a dawg," said McDuffie, who also serves as Green Bay's special teams captain. "He's an animal. He's a dependable guy and you love having guys like that in the room."

The Packers feel strongly about their linebacker depth, though they know they won't be getting Cooper back this season.

There's hope Franklin isn't too far away, though the former All-Pro linebacker was estimated as a non-participant Wednesday. Hopper also was estimated as limited due to the illness that forced him from Sunday's game.

Niemann showed he's ready for anything that's thrown his way, a good trait to have during a season in which the Packers have faced so much adversity on the injury front.

"Definitely a big deal," Niemann said. "The more you can do in the league, the longer you're gonna stay and the more money you're gonna make. If you can increase your role and show that you're capable of playing on defense when maybe it doesn't always seem like you can because you're not out there much, it definitely helps and you gotta take pride in that."